“I won’t,” she replied. “Change my mind, I mean.”
I let it slide, but she didn’t know how wrong she was.
“Are we in agreement?”
“And what do I get if I agree?” she asked, raising her brow. She rubbed the gem of her pendant, casting the bath water in momentary red light before she let it drop. “To stay here with you?”
“What do you want?” I asked softly, curious what she would say. Another deal between us, another barter.
She nibbled on her lip. I saw when the answer came to her, but oddly, she didn’t voice it right away. Like she was weighing the consequences if she said it.
“Tell me.”
“I…I don’t want to fall asleep alone if I stay here,” she finally said.
The words surprised me. The quiet stretched in the bath as she shifted, waiting for my reply.
Because she didn’t want to be alone, I knew. She’d said something similar to me down in Ny’am.
“All right,” I said, making her gaze snap up toward me. “Then you won’t be.”
Easy enough.
She sniffed, as if she hadn’t just asked me to lie beside her each and every night she was here. “So we are in agreement? Again?” she added.
“It seems we are.”
That was easier than I’d thought it’d be.
“What…what are you going to do about Ryak?” came her hesitant question.
I looked down at the rippling of the water.
I didn’t want to be a tool for Elysom, used to relay a strong but clear threat to a distant king.
Then again, I risked the backlash and uprising of Grymia’s citizens, who knew the precedence for a murder. If I let this one slide, what would become of the order and law that we were all bound to?
If one murdered, their life was forfeit.
If one stole an Elthika egg or hatchling, their life was forfeit.
If one harmed an Elthika maliciously without provocation, their life was forfeit.
Three simple laws that led to the highest form of punishment.
I knew what needed to be done. What always should’ve been done. The knowledge settled deep into my bones, the answer clear.
I met her eyes.
Then I said simply, “Ryak will be executed.”
There was no other choice.
Chapter 24
AMAIA
Walking to the hatchery the next morning, I could practicallyhearthe stares. So loud that I felt my throat slowly tightening with every step.
